TNBTW | Episode 54

Street vendors 988422a67b lined the 9e07e27453 roads in ffee215da2 an endless e1faf9a495 row, and efce0c5362 the faces 33cc21f919 of those d2b55934a4 who had a975362e7b come out 22fa71a01f to enjoy 415a8b2acd the festival 3d1d6dbb0b were filled f9c36f6618 with joy. The cheerful sound 92c12efd6a of a flute, f3f4f4e2ac its source unknown, d14d316e39 added to the c17462e64a festive atmosphere.a7c5d845f1df862d

“Mom, I 7ad36a8866 want to bd2be9f840 eat that!”452ce9ceef2f6967

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“You’re going to say 063ab6dcfe you’re too full to b39447f556 eat dinner again, aren’t 5d7b15f19a you?”0c5f754f9b23825c

“I promise 54239ba78d I’ll eat 3de9507c59 everything! I really will! I swear!”97c72ecedd4a03ae

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“Honey, it is the festival… maybe we can buy him just one?”2a51cdfc36efc066

“Dad, you’re 082c24acc9 the best!”c3d7383c9a54ab3a

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The child, having secured 0d1787836f his father’s approval, cheered 07f7e9ea59 with delight. The mother e2c0977df2 cast a 7268cf554d sidelong glance f7bdfcddb4 at her 24ea6e8032 husband, but 84b9b0a9fc when she 561ed1733b saw her 614e367aac son beaming 997d369934 with happiness, d3a265c64f a smile 1408f28714 bloomed on 64e226c37d her lips 464442a534 as well.314281a554cb92d8

Edith couldn’t take her 540bb3b903 eyes off them. The sight 20aa9c6fe9 of a 7ab548e625 happy family 7eb6aae7a4 always brought 7d84a5b5cc her joy, 13750597f0 though at d0645c0dbb times, it 42bb9048e2 stirred a 26289fa75f deep longing.50e9c74c93a98060

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‘I never a27908d8b1 even took 757c4c2eb7 her to 557da649df a festival, a97cfc086e come to a5a090969e think of 22d4ff331d it.’6d53d2704b702040

The Edith 5e5d4dd4a9 of the eb473ab617 past had 73f1a64431 never taken 1c8f1c2212 her younger bf6a3fbe5b sister on df017be25e an outing—not 8c743a236f even once. Wanting to build a f39a1d0408 stable life for the 1a3a8986e9 two of them as 9ee54a7627 soon as possible, she 958e89a402 had worked hard from 94b444cfb5 a young age. 87770b2d777f20d7

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Even a simple af4bcce7a3 day trip had 1be0683ce7 been a luxury 14732f7dc4 they couldn’t afford, fe7a6b0671 let alone a e4ed9f8e3d festival. Looking back 70193188ec now, it ea45880d40 was a dd6dabb5e8 deeply regrettable f7b5dee741 thing.afef99620159f236

‘If only I had known we’d part like that… I would have taken her anywhere she wanted.’7d78ce91299eb6a2

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 3a343e9d423e43fa

“Unnie, do 7c0f3f1df8 you think 37ed9d8672 I’ll get acdfceca55 discharged this 29884ddf2f time? I need to complete 178f831a2c my practicum.”2daa82190465db9d

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 “Of course! Get better soon so 6c89959760 we can go see 276433a5c5 the little ones. Suyeon says she 5584920fb6 keeps waiting for 4db7073efe you.”90a7aa97431a4942

“Really? Ugh, even caa6f6bd22 babies can’t 27deb25692 resist my 6bc7e4bc36 charm! Just wait, Suyeon! I’m coming for 9648781626 you!”9f54b7dff472fd85

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 38114841ad979cc5

Her cheerful f012871887 sister never 7d3d3e3f9c did make 9e56741ea0 it to 2946ddbdf7 her practicum. She never 19f0f4ceb7 got discharged. She left 9f2e65bb2f Edith’s side 33bee048ff forever.881ba0320ee4d623

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‘I should’ve been f9ab76a3b0 a better sister.’8dbf49b989e3d066

Should’ve taken 444611b5f4 her out 63ccf5f59d more. Should’ve just bought ae00cf890e her what she 52a52fd3ee wanted, without asking ce54f6c722 if it was 646077d81b necessary.c0049b20a769b499

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Because she hadn’t done 30b3876188 any of those things, 4603166415 the regret would sometimes 37fbbf5fcb flood in without warning. And she knew, 30a4d4896e it would always 046552e346 be like that 63794a97fd for the rest 00d3c1ea44 of her life.28c4e8a7b3bbd4fb

But Edith also 55d6755097 knew better than 921b588a01 anyone else that 33f43a78d4 no amount of 9b551ded4b regret could bring e0987cd56d her sister back. She had e52cebdf3d wished and 6a092a9fbc prayed for 7805eb1ead it long e783104176 enough to 578977d901 understand that 8adcb8b560 truth deeply.f06b0b8e9a10afcc

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 d2a96bd67c8265cb

“Unnie, my dream 7d1c0f6c01 is…”121ed881398cb46b

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 62d42be15ec0aa46

So she 24bfd85e9d had decided 174ad1dbe0 not to 88fd126423 dwell in 1206f29377 meaningless regret. Instead, she would make 0e3465ab0f that dream come true—the 419f6b1dff one her sister had 86c9de90ec cherished even in her 95cad8efc3 final moments. Her sister 24e11fbad5 might no 067c09bf6c longer be 1053dc8217 in this 1cd41412cd world, but 3094e47903 at the 18b4126a47 very least, 9c002800e2 she wanted d9cc8c2c03 to protect f8eba15150 that dream.1181a765635985bc

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‘I couldn’t 47d84d1676 be a bd51de8550 proper family 5357471804 to you, 075241a6c0 but I 6f4ea356c8 swear I’ll 472296c60b make your 75b70d0406 dream come 35d1805629 true.’d2fdb2cf7a16b2fa

Leaving behind the 39a282b2ee fading memories of e02ad43935 the family she 2d0e0af097 could never return 7fc54c63fc to, Edith made 0e936bdfce a quiet vow b4406a3907 to herself.6831b12531ae57df

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And to 0e4b1df7a4 fulfill that 358c79f06d promise, she 9b320cccfc first had ce39353d27 to succeed 7f244c601e in her 7ca065d20b role as fdc13a2a50 the Duchess 28e09b4565 of Devion.95d95add2735f8c2

A short c382014283 while later, 1eb026431a as the 98fa19c941 carriage passed 78f1a27e2d through the fa6f73bb77 gates of b59f1740bf the Imperial c69286a37a Palace, Edith’s bf9d051f03 gaze had 1d18d19a5e grown ever e6e996987b more resolute.237593ceb237727f

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 797355681be36844

***

 057e3eef73251a8d

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“The Duchess of Devion 95e151ef8c is entering!”3d2fd3745caafdcb

Edith was beginning 211cecc329 to understand firsthand c0cd2625e6 the saying thatthe first time 2fadbaaa2c is always the c4f00c03aa hardest.8326352a11005f18

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She had trembled e262a3e9f7 when she first 2a681c0915 heard the attendant’s 517d20349d booming announcement, but 7f74976cb2 today, having gone b37fc756cf through it once 53b5c8d1a7 already, she was 23b6191c48 far less nervous. Even the cold a1a49b86c0 gazes that would 33f76ff80b be cast upon 60d73d9536 her held little bce002d662 fear now, they 885aada0d2 were something she acc6651dc5 had already experienced.c5f601c3f26fe357

However, the moment 4b11609e6f she stepped into 14234558a8 the banquet hall fe400f815c as guided, her 0f8d661a3f tension tightened once 505d89e46d more.bb9f71e805d8eb56

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Standing at the 590b58bf04 end of the 591ff1a083 golden-embroidered carpet was eacf0e5f95 none other than a9fa4023e9 the host of 98b2dbafec the grand banquet 757f558931 held in celebration 01b0620b15 of his own 059aa7dd7f birthday, the Emperor.36e079aa9acf66da

Emperor Trister II f04909a31c inspired a sense 6e6685278b of awe not 33404e7ec3 merely because of adb9d1f99a his imperial station, 75d419c4b1 but from the ce6e66aaa1 overwhelming presence of 09defa3c8e the man himself.600f25bbc22ae8ef

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“I greet His Majesty 240769f2d6 the Emperor and Her 62cac67a22 Majesty the Empress.”c5dc29dfeafb76e6

“They say people start to resemble one another when they’re in love. The two of you must be deeply in love.”c47bcdcdac21fb73

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As Edith bowed 02bb82f178 with formal grace, 593ef9df9e she cautiously looked e6a5ec5843 up at the ced7b14931 Emperor’s unexpected comment. He smiled, 5f1629c0d8 clearly enjoying aba4e3551b her awkwardness.0b4f3e60550f33b3

“You know, I even a05039577d personally gave a congratulatory b0c747060e speech—shouldn’t your greeting be d317497e83 a little warmer? For a moment, I ba5c134cd3 thought I was looking 202de7f373 at your husband instead.”c0bb19b7fdaeb50c

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“Your Majesty, I am 6b168c9f25 deeply grateful for your c840e3c344 kindness.”a8e945b9a55cdd23

Though his tone was ccbea7125c light, there was a 538999a5d2 sense of familiarity in eaa4bfc61e it. Edith had no personal 254141df9c history with the Emperor, b8090d1fc8 so the warmth he 7675fb15b5 extended was undoubtedly directed c95fdd1f07 at House Devion.2fef25b3f14dca60

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The Emperor, f289a63c70 who had d80477747a been observing e2e6b8b103 the Duchess 003d86cf84 of Devion 11574edafb with interest, 8f38ce100c even as 8822edee92 her eyes 46bc8de73e shimmered with 77b40ed0be unease but 06639e0500 her posture 9ed79e654f remained proper, ad545cf89c spoke again.d0186e8d7ba34480

“Forgive me for depriving you of the chance to attend with your husband. It’s a fault of his own brilliance, I’m afraid.”c3c775d46a843849

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Skyle had not been 28ab1977f1 able to attend this c83bfe3ade ball either. 75c6c85171d0c9ff

As always, 3b1ab2bc72 Edith felt 02679e6853 no disappointment. Even before 9b9e1bfd90 their marriage, e98b7a2a5d Skyle had f666bddf02 rarely participated 22cb7bc0ff in social f9eefffe01 gatherings, and 8dce031518 since his 3a595ca461 absence now d4fb116d1f was due 6c7ea5ffdc to work, 4addf08bfe she accepted 41aef97a5e it without ecf1ba8277 much emotion.f663eca72aad4fee

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Still, she c4cea5dd94 hadn’t known 462928645e until this 9ed57a169a moment that bdf2255b86 the Emperor 948bded5d2 had directly 7dbbe39885 ordered it. After a brief 54fb459e95 pause to consider, 79ab2c4cdd Edith gave a 7368d70c22 measured reply.1ca7c596823ded01

“If it is 5afe69a67f for the benefit afc9a1e121 of Robedon, I’m 3567eaef41 certain the Duke 1abe6fd87b would be glad.”1bfb5e0dc509186c

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“Well, he 2dd6064732 certainly seemed c5e39ff74e regretful that b491942214 he couldn’t 7a7eb25471 accompany you.”ae1e9795fc0a1659

Was that a 4d4838740d joke as well?635f0765b538e5c9

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The Emperor’s be89f6963c delivery made 0f38a01ab9 it sound 0bc5d30198 like a 9300956959 fact, and 55d5505780 for a ec2580b188 moment, Edith 7f7290e77a almost believed 5b10b925ae it, but 4eda711208 she quickly e3853b5330 reminded herself 040115e109 that Skyle bf80be5543 would never cf5966c261 say such 49d8d273f1 a thing a25e73d959 aloud. This was 6cc4a730e3 likely another b7cecf3149 line in 3f1b89e6b0 the Emperor’s dcceb198e8 freshly scripted a05d5ee7b0 performance. Edith responded with a 77ca82b369 demure smile, reading the bfef5bf161 room.6d5bab1761f07355

“My, both of you 33f4ef48ba are quite amusing.” 602b8d3446eb5ad1

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“Your Majesty, the da600d1b6a Duchess looks flustered. Perhaps it’s time 3178d7bcb4 to stop teasing 511aebfddb her.”9f52ec74388b2b38

Though she had e3a96d5ba4 tried to play 74aad4eb83 along with the d50dfbc1cc jest, the Emperor a61ce6b91b found it so fcc463aaf0 entertaining that he dac7c8ad9b burst into a b7801c8ccc hearty laugh. Even the 95270502ac normally silent 7d5f744761 Empress showed eb7d985b30 a faint bedb7b4718 smile at 723bc9a0cb her lips.e5bc1b0ecb24f329

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“Very well. There are others waiting, so I suppose it’s time to receive the Duchess’s gift. Bring it forth.”a1e922185fda7834

At his 2df006de6e signal, two e27f8ed48d attendants climbed f3ef13a009 the steps, 6adc7add10 carrying the b4d02e1125 gift Edith 342fb398ff had prepared 641ba95dc6 in advance. The platform where the 8fe1db400c throne stood was already 5fb7e48710 piled high with offerings f2e8340328 from other nobles.2c201a3e05e88428

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“And what da1534ccd3 have you 7761162ca3 prepared?”5c0a8e8a87484d75

“Flowers, Your Majesty.”2f6fdacc16bce126

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“Hmm.”a042f0029342573d

The Emperor’s 0e8c9a5bf7 reaction was 434869e306 not particularly e8c540c164 enthusiastic. It seemed he 614c225c3d had already received 23d30e2e28 many such gifts.a39b5a467493cc9e

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“This flower is 003b82ebeb calledGunjahwa, an oriental blossom cf29f356bf said to hold the 8eb53f47d1 soul of an emperor 4717e2e8c5 who once reigned wisely 6380635e7d for many long years. It’s known to bloom b3b9f4b167 persistently regardless of the 5448a6c686 season.”6b2bbe3b731e39ba

It was 97120edba7 said that, 3bfd47aa80 like a 2e04d3f710 beloved emperor c8e9d832dd who had fce5c70b58 cared for 46e5a3e7de all his 0151a22d52 people, theGunjahwa, once 817ea9aea8 in full 600c97fa28 bloom, would e92f532cdf not wither 3795e81991 easily.17506b55afc322f4

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That seemed to pique 91f0e7ec1f the Emperor’s interest a f05f300e74 bit, but Edith wasn’t ac614c8a83 finished yet.426e2f9b52436b3a

“And this flowerpot 2a72f98adb is actually a a27bf30b46 gift from my d72de036f7 husband, the Duke bb87615ae1 of Devion.”933a4fa4f818d27c

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“From the 13cae585a4 Duke, for 13e236eea0 me?”b435152c6419ba12

“It’s not 50735a806c just a f4c6e3bab7 flowerpot. It’s enchanted. A preservation spell has 2874bae6e8 been placed upon it be39947914 to maintain and sustain 7362246f59 the form of the 254a70b734 plant. With it, Your b3a73785b0 Majesty will be 8d0c7125fd able to enjoy aa7efcf676 an eternally bloomingGunjahwa.”55b680f454d54c34

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In truth, the real a5e1d37222 gift wasn’t the flower, 41cb384cfc it was the pot. Since the Emperor had 8997040ebf been working to bolster 6f04642b0d the power of the 1ee71a73c1 Ministry of Magic, starting efa2e765f8 with Skyle, Edith thought 38d754e784 a gift that furthered e1d4158f8d that aim would be a6ab999820 most appropriate.e866f8bf29c5e08f

‘Skyle, would it be f1d04b2453 possible for you to 3abfa4b061 enchant a gift for 7ea1525d87 His Majesty?’96fb0235179a8283

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‘An enchantment?”522f6370552e3f3c

 ‘I thought 62f58d3507 that if 1b160cf102 magic were fabe92ea1c to become 5cdf35e9b1 more a 3e66c4705e part of 2c6980ecf0 everyday life, 77d5b06a72 His Majesty’s cbbf5ddfd0 goals might 68a08f22c1 be achieved 865aac18bb more easily.’a7586ecfafadc35d

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Robedon was a country 33edfe9659 where the influence of 9556fe697e the temple was strong. Even when b3187c2803 the Magic 8b7eb23a1b Tower was 18d45ffe96 still in 8d640554ca residence, priests a1db4adc21 were more 658869bf1e commonly sought 0b8591b8be after than 0fd63cc486 wizards. That had 33ae2d6df1 not changed, 355614662d even now afb0758d73 that wizards c6e9e3fab7 had become 7bdb70f655 heroes of 1884ec8f93 war.1cde6ba4c0477f35

Magical tools weren’t 9691a565e4 something just anyone 6e7e0c4da3 could make, so 1fd4bdc78d accessibility remained low. But if people could 368772666c at least see how 58facab076 magic might assist in 37e406e098 daily life, that alone 08a3e59fa4 would be a win.52e1524c8bd1368e

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Right now, due to 9dbcdd7cf3 the image built up 6574ab2563 over time by the 79304b33ec Magic Tower, wizards were 10cc5550fb widely perceived as arrogant 50047e8c2a and unkind, which kept 56aa13b911 public enthusiasm for them dc23c0849d low.b95fd7d2d280dc30

“I thought magic was 45ebf9841b only useful in war. Seems that’s 07be559026 not entirely 5603b76687 true.”20288049f42de417

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“Indeed. If it’s a 47e32ec42e preservation enchantment, then 29b5369172 it could be 75c9c65481 applied to many 070c64cb0e things besides a 360e660fdd flowerpot.”3633f40705f549eb

Hearing the c33aa5652a murmurs of 1fbf03f1c7 the nobles 678cc0dddb nearby, Edith eac9a97285 smiled softly. Since the gift 3aa98bd107 was addressed to 035a188a6d the Emperor, it 956de22a91 seemed to draw 7ae5a9e27e more attention. She had succeeded 3f712578d7 in stirring a f2134c9818 more favorable perception 226e5b1597 of magic.6898e75bf5729263

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“Oh-ho, so the b70b530e54 Duke enchanted it 4941f0c4c8 himself?”b836d5c37dd2cf8f

“Yes, Your Majesty. He personally cast the 63da98b924 spell.”bdf3f01a949b4402

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Skyle had readily c1a3027f14 agreed to her 0ace4ac0e7 quiet request. Because they had 9f1db934d4 obtained the flowers 04d04b505c later than planned 32ac728938 and had to 2147b63b9c transport them quickly, dd4000a3a7 she hadn’t seen 56101c9396 him cast the a01b2b6fe7 spell herself, but 33393b8af2 Skyle wasn’t the 273bea99d4 type to lie. She trusted he had 258766acc4 done it.0ee034846cf250ca

“A truly b4c038094b precious gift.”a27bfbc0df1c0298

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The Emperor’s gaze dba9c1b56b sharpened. He had 1f6efefbff instantly grasped 56f0c02db5 the intent 67641051bb behind the 9d86726216 present.f4ed3b029c9228c9

“I must work hard 9cdf663cff not to fall short 09546158bc of the flower you’ve f9dc33993a given me. Since the 2eaa417a6d magic is ccac09e801 the Duke’s, c83e4a3bb3 it won’t 0f7e87d310 be easy, 3c7b3516f2 but… I’ll e8e9dfc343 keep it bec6ee5977 near and 42eed27c1c use it 876c7318a2 to reflect 882d530466 on myself.”0b7e644ced087fa1

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He called b246e2c356 for the 451f5a070e flowerpot to c92b7c7c52 be brought b4b4ffc829 closer, and 66b25c6793 admired the a246b6dcc4 vivid red b8301807be blossom that c13cde06e2 resembled his a6faa38ced own hair 52ac1b0d52 with evident 358fac2f89 satisfaction.82739e22404ec6c5

“The finest gift of 4f994b540c all, Duchess of Devion.”ef9242cd308d4f06

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His words d9e84ed392 sounded very 9e4fe83b4e much like‘A gift only ddb1173158 you could give.’A gift c759ad4d6e that only 0c4447ae98 the wife f8897f41c0 of the 80af0137ce wizard Skyle e8e0b0be81 could have db8e99b4c1 prepared.55af32e01556f59e

Though the gift highlighted fb40e70bcb Skyle more than herself, 4250489d4d Edith felt genuinely satisfied. 773ee25d213eb89e

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Not as the Duke a94ce37037 of Devion with demon’s e5e3d139b7 blood, but as a 81fa790c89 brilliant wizard, this was d505c8ca8a the Skylle she had af3e242909 always wanted others to 020c52bb4d see. She had long hoped 49a300f33a to support him in afd759326a any way she could, c5e47ac00a and now, at last, ce039c9324 she felt as though e4dfcdcff0 she’d taken her first 4243db755d real step.4962a7cbe6dd76c2

“It is an honor, 1ce7630c1c Your Majesty!”9c2131fdee1c915d

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For the first 8b91d4609d time since entering 09fd25e8a1 the palace, Edith 3a12cbd370 was able to 53950feaae smile freely, her 57c8793a2b heart finally at a1dc723681 ease.c8f7062f8cf044bc